The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-05

pieces by hospital nurse the witness. and in the
course of this made remarks upon their healthy ap-
pearce. We believe there was foul play here
We find that about the period one Mungo
colored convict. charged with stealing file, was
by John Craig, then deputy warden and robust man.
Tho EVIDENCE is Conflicting as to the number OF
strokes counted by convicts but all agree in pnt-
ting the number above fifty. Mungo died from the
effects of this castigation In great agony.
We find the punishment usually inflicted is confne-
Inent--sometmes as long thirty days-in a filthy
and dark cell commonly called the cage" fifty feet
from the nearest OF warmth and full of vermn.
Here handeufed to the door during the day.
night sleep the stone floor on lumber brought
for that purpose, without bedding coats Convicts
have been known to have their feet frozen from ex
posure in this cell.
Another punishment is the ''crazy house." and
some men have been almost crazed by confne
ment there.
Charles David, convict had been imprisoned
there continuously six months, and fought the
rats Tor his life. He was for four days at a time
without water and drank his own urine.
Other instances of severe punishment for
sman offenses are given, and the report cor
Guides with recommending that no further OUT
lay tor improvements at the prison be made, as
In few years the people will demand a removal.
The buildings now, with the exception of the
new cil-house and chapel, generally dilap-
ldated. AS to religious instruction, the pardon
brokerage of Chaplain Cain and his neglect of
duties, the committee submit the evidence which
has been published The committee exonerates
Representative Jewett from any improper or dis
honorable action in trying to procure pardon
for the convict Arthur Brooks.
The report is signed by the full COMMITTEES
Lee w. Sinclair, j. B. Patton, William Il.
Pleak, T. J. S. Robinson, George W. Hobson,
John D. Alexander, Charles W. Cruson, Job
Osborn. VIM Ii. Whitworth
In the evidence offered the committee gives
the following sworn statement from a convict
Nearly twothirds of the reports against the prison
ers the complaints of the prisoners and the punish
Inent of prisoners from the shoeshop, where
there arc only about 90 employed and the cause
is very plain to who is there to it, Mr.. James
Kennedy, the head guard there is old experienced
obdurate criminal; he is noted for cruelty great
lover of gain an habitua drunkard and what is here
called prison ring lord. He receives pay from all
quarters and stands ready to commit any manner of
ring in the interest of contractors for pay He is
warden. guard, foreman, assistant. superintendent
shoes made there for himself and family He gets
good portion of his fuel there. He often draws
the contractor for lumber he has considerable work
done in the boxshop and the machine shop of that in
stituton, and he receives great many other little
presents from there, and pays for all in everlasting
and crowding the prisoners in the most brutal man
ner He has who has been about here the last
three or four years, sometimes guard and sometimes
| foreman He is foreman in the shoe-shop.
lie Is there foreman for the contractor TO demand the
work, and his father is there guard to force the
| work DONE
| After giving the horrible condition of the cells
| and the sufferings from cold the prisoners have
| undergone from the want OF 6umcleDt QedGns
| apparatus the statement continues:
| There was good mechanic, who worked for the
| State and officers. He trusty. His work was
| principally making bird cages, making and 1nendine
| furniture, fine cedar chests etc There stand
ing order for the contractors to let him have what h
| called for He did great deal of work for George
| Howard such making tables, desks. secretaries
lard coolers and many other things for his pork house
and Storeroom The material always bought Of
the contractor and charged to the State and othe,
account kept of it. l often bought lum Der and hard
n ha for I'd ;cl
was charged to the State and the amount not known
even to George Howard. built and painted sum
mer-house for the State in Captain Howard's yard
and Mr.. Allen bought 900 pounds of white lead
and oil in proportion to paint the house with and
used about hundred pounds of the paint ant
George Howard hauled the balance back to town ant
had his storehouse painted with it. When asked fo
the paint and brushes hestated but George Howard
gave to understand plainly that it all RICH
| with his brother Jack, and ne would stand between
me and all danger.
The statement supplies other incidents Of lik'
character, while the testimony whole bear
out the conclusions in the report in every par
ticuar.